Alternatives to deep frying?

Hello!

I often see the ChefSteps guys deep frying all sorts of things. While I would absolutely LOVE to try the Can't F*** it up Fried Chicken, let's face it I just don't want to heat up a whole dutch oven's worth of oil just to fry. I just shallow fried up some aracini a couple days ago and it I was not a fan of the cleanup afterwards. I understand that frying is the quickest way to get a crunchy coating or crust on something because it is such an efficient conductor of heat, but is there something else I can do for comparable results? I imagine that trying to oven-bake something for a crunchy coating would defeat the purpose of sous vide first, it would just dry it out at that point.

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Comments

Matthew_Hall_263763

Have you looked at something like the Philips Air Fryer? I don't think anyone (other than the manufacturer) will claim that it's a direct substitute for deep frying, but it looks interesting and seems to be popular.

Corey_Schwanz_415318

That's funny that you should specifically talk about that one! My wife really wants that one and we were going to get it before ordering the Joule. Then Joule went to $149, so my new gadget became cheaper than hers, so we chose that. We are interested in it, just a large and expensive tool.

Brian_Martin_197578

They are just a gimmick. They do not come close to replicating fried foods. They give the food a roasted kind of quality, and one can cook with them easily enough, however, you Will be able to Tell which one was fried and which one wasn't 100 times out of 100.

Also to consider, there have been studies done which show air fryers tend to create more harmful compounds than actual frying.

As an aside, you can find them for around 80 USD if you do an internet search. Good luck!

Todd_Shewman_38102

Small saucepan with relatively high sides. Batches have to be small (like 1-2 pieces of chicken) but they are pretty efficient. When done, strain the oil through muslin or a few layers of papers towels and reuse.

Matthew_Hall_263763

Good to know -- thanks. Buyer's remorse avoided.

Matthew_Hall_263763

Has anyone tried the gelatin clarification technique for oil that was recently posted by Kenji? On one hand, it seems like unnecessary work compared to regular straining, but I'm wondering if the method is most useful for heavily contaminated oils.

fisher23

Don't buy one. Convection in your oven works better and creates safer food. I was thinking of getting an air fryer a while back and when I mentioned it here I was told all the bad things. I tried some of the recipes using my convection oven and its good not fried taste at all but still good. If you really want one or something like that go for a Cuisinart Combo Steam and Convection Oven, I have only heard good things about them.

Johan_Edstrom_5586

Get a good container, then pouring out the oil, straining it and cleaning up really isn't much of an issue. No, nothing really compares to frying.

fisher23

@Connie_Tuescher_326829 and @HammeredChef_DEFINITELY_does_NOT_work_at_22134 have one and could tell you how great they are.

hairyotter_273859

This is my go to fryer, only needs 4 cups of oil, nice high sides keep oil splatter to a minimum. Seems to recover quickly when cooking multiple batches. No buttons, just plug and play. Very easy to clean. I stopped using my fancy fryer because this thing rocks! And it only cost about $25. There are only 2 of us in my household so this 4 cup version works well for us. I can get 4 thighs in this fryer. There is a larger version available.

Presto 05420 FryDaddy Electric Deep Fryer

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00005KB37/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

However... When it comes to cookin' chicken I've had better luck pan frying my sous vide chicken. Sous vide, pan fry 'till golden brown, plate and eat.

Bill_Rider_1292541

I use a Gotham Steel Bacon Bonanza. It effectively separates the fat, leaving only crispy delicious bacon behind so you can continue loving this remarkable food without the guilt https://blades.guru/bacon-bonanza-review.

Brian_Martin_197578

@Lorraine_Esterling_1040639 @Nell_Welch_345007 #SPAM